Rake and apparatus for making same



' N o M o d e 1 L G I B B S.

RAKE AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAME.

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PATENT LEl/VIS GIBBS, OF CANTON, OHIO.

RAKE AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,129, datedSeptember 8, 1896.

Application filed January 6, 1896- To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS GIBBS, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Canvented a new and useful Improvement in Rakes andApparatus for Making the Same, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification.

My invention relates to rakes, more particular] y lawn-rakes, and meansfor making the same, the object being to provide a rake-head whichpossesses the requisite strength and durability and to permanentlysecure the teeth thereto in a simple manner without the requirement offoreign means, such as pins, screws, and the like. I am aware that it isnot broadly new to dispense with foreign means for establishing theconnection of the teeth with the head of the rake, for in my Patent No.514,989, dated February 20, 1894, I obtained this result, but in adifferent Way. In the said patent the headis made of spring metal and isbent in a U form, so as to bring the tooth-holes into alinement. Theteeth are then inserted through the alined holes, and the tendency ofthe rake-head to spread firmly pinches the teeth. The spring action ofthe head is all that tends to hold the teeth in place. In my presentinvention I provide positive means for holding the teeth, as will appearfarther on.

With these objects in view my invention relates to certain features ofconstruction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter describedand claimed.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a view in perspectiveillustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of a fragment of astrip of sheet metal, showing the form and manner of punching the holesfor the rake-teeth before the strip is formed into a tubular head. Fig.3 is an end view of the dies by which the strip of sheet metal, as shownin Fig. 2, is bent or turned to U form, as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is anend view of dies by which the cylindrical tube is formed and the teethformed.

Heretofore tubular rake-heads have been made by cutting drawn or weldedtubes to desired lengths and drilling therein a series of holestransverse the tube and diametrically Serial No. 574,419. (No model.)

opposite, in which were placed a-series of rake-teeth. This method hasproven to be too expensive, and the result not desirable, because of theexcessive weight and cost of production. To obviate the excess of weightand cost is the object of my invention, which I will now describe as anewmethod of manufacturing tubular rake-heads.

A denotes a strip of sheet metal cut from a rolled sheet of such widthas would provide the desired length of head and of desirable number inthickness, say from sixteen to twenty American wire-gage. These stripsare nipped or cut off the end of the machine by a cutterthe full widthof the sheet, with a uniform width throughout their length, the edgesbeing parallel. In this strip A there is then punched in pairs series ofholes B, as shown in Fig. 2. The holes may be punched in pairs, two at atime, or one entire side at one operation, but always in such order asto bring the holes diametrically opposite when the strip is formed intoa tube. When so punched, the strip is placed between the dies 0 and D,the former having provided on its lower face a rib a and the latter inits upper face a corresponding groove 1). (Shown in Fig. 3.) The diesare then closed, by which movement the sheet 'is turned to a U shape, asshown in the dies, Fig. 4.

When the strip A, with holes, as B, punched therein, has been turn ed toU form with sides parallel, or thereabout, the prongs E of theprevionsly-provided teeth F may be passed through holes B, as shown inFig. 4, and free edges of the U-bar turned downwardly and inwardly tocontract the inner edge of the holes B on the prongs E of the teeth F,thereby securing the teeth in the head F.

The dies shown in Fig. 4 are made in two parts, G and H, the latterhaving in its upper side a groove or recess, as 0, adapted to receivethe U-shaped head as formed in the die D. (Shown in Fig. 3.) The uppersides of the die maybe rounded off, as shown at d, to curve the teethtransverse thehead.

In the upper part G of the die is provided a groove 6, the sides ofwhich are adapted to catch over the sides f of the sheet-metal head andturn them in and down to position indicated by the dotted'lines h, thuscompleting the tube K. The sides of part G of the die Too are curveddown, as shown, to correspond with the upper side portion of; part II,the operation. of which is to curve or bend the teeth, as before stated.The die may be formed to give any desired curvature to the teeth, or theunder face of part G, outside of the groove (2, may be fiat, and thecorresponding top part of part II to correspond, which would leave theteeth straight, but secured in the tubular head because of the pressureof the dies on the tube, which condenses the sheet metal forming thetube about the teeth, thereby securing the teeth in the tube orrake-head.

Although I have shown and describeda tubular rake, and prefer such form,yet I would have it distinctly understood that I do not restrict myselfto such form, as I contemplate.

as fallin-gwit-hinthe, scopeof my invention anyform of rake-headhavingtooth-openings the teeth.

the die II, whereby as the tube is formed in thecentral recesses orgrooves, the end portions oftlle teeth will be bent transverse the heador bar, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rake, a rake-head formed with a series of tooth-holes,rake-teeth inserted through said holes, the walls of said holes beingcontracted to permanently bite or pinch The combination with a hollowrakeheadhaving two sets of registering tooth- ,holes, teeth insertedthrough saidholes, said rake-head being bent on a line cutting the holeswhereby portions of the walls of said holes are contracted to bite andfirmly and permanently hold the teeth.

t; In a rake a rake-head consisting of a longitudinally-hollow bodyhaving two sets of registering tooth-holes, rake-teeth inserted throughsaid holes, said head being bent on a line cutting the tooth-holestocontract portions of the walls of said holes to permanently bite theteeth, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this th day ofDecember, A. D. 1895. at

IJEIVIS GIBBS. \Vitnesses:

W. K. MILLER, BURT A. MILLER.

